Luis Valdez

Tagline: Luis Valdez, a beacon of Chicano cinema, carving a path in the world of film that few had traveled before.

Having been born in 1940 in Delano, California, USA, Luis Valdez has been actively directing films from the late 1960s up to the present, primarily in the genres of drama, musical, and biography. He is best known for his films "Zoot Suit" (1981) and "La Bamba" (1987), and his body of work has garnered multiple awards including a Peabody Award and an honorary doctorate from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with his authorial style often emphasizing the experiences of Mexican-Americans. Despite the acclaim, Luis Valdez has always remained a humble craftsman of the cinematic arts, dedicated to telling the stories of his people with authenticity and heart.